SOUTH BOSTON – Since his 2019 passing, the Boston Latin boys and girls hockey teams have hosted the Michael Giordano Christmas Classic at Murphy Memorial Rink in honor of the beloved alumni, teacher and coach.

And Friday morning, they honored him more by kicking off the holiday tournament’s semifinals with a pair of barnburners that each came down to the third period.

The first game of four saw the Boston Latin girls score three goals in the final frame to edge Ursuline Academy, 4-2. In the next, Lynnfield scored twice in the final four minutes to outlast the Boston Latin boys, 2-0.

A 35-save shutout from Lynnfield’s Angelo Covino was a major driver in denying the reigning champion Wolfpack (2-2) a return to the championship. But the Wolfpack girls (2-3-1) generated enough offense to overcome a 5-0 loss to NDA (Hingham) three days prior, and advanced to play for the “Gio” championship on Friday.

“Not one person talks a bad word about the guy; he was a mentor to these kids,” said Boston Latin girls head coach Tom McGrath. “We needed this win. … For us to get four goals today – our three losses, three shutouts. We get four goals today, hopefully that’s a start for the new year.”

Ursuline goalie Casey McManus (41 saves) was exceptional, limiting the Boston Latin girls through the first two periods to just one goal – which Angela Wells (two goals, assist) scored in the opening 10 seconds. The Bears responded quickly, too, with Audrey Bernazzani tallying the 1-1 tie they carried into the third period.

Lynnfield’s Sam Surely, left, knocks down Boston Latin’s Morgan Barbuto during a boys hockey clash Friday. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Wolfpack freshman Alannah Chambers scored her first career goal just 5:01 into the third period to regain the lead, only for Ciara Farley to answer a minute later for Ursuline. But Boston Latin’s emphasis on the power play paid off, getting goals from Wells with 7:45 left, and from Phoebe Niese (goal, two assists) three minutes later.

“We practice the power play every single day,” McGrath said. “It paid off today, it looked beautiful.”

After Wells’ second goal gave Boston Latin a 3-2 lead, goalie McKenna Savicke stopped seven of her 29 saves to hold onto the win.

“She’s been solid all year and she’s only going to get better,” McGrath said.

The Lynnfield and Boston Latin boys expected a tight affair heading in, so much so that Pioneers (2-1-1) head coach Jon Gardner was already prepared for their tilt to go into overtime or a shootout.

For as much as Boston Latin carried play in the first two periods, Covino starred between the pipes to keep it scoreless heading into the third.

Lynnfield broke through when Lucas Duraps crashed on a rebound for a goal with 3:41 left. Nick Kelter – who was denied on a breakaway by Boston Latin’s Oliver Murphy (14 saves) in the first – forced a turnover for a breakaway goal and a 2-0 lead with 1:57 to play.

“We didn’t play great, I think we kind of brought not one of our best caliber games … I can’t say enough things about (Covino),” Gardner said. “But our guys just stuck to it, played our system. We knew it was going to be (a tough game). So, I give our guys a lot of credit.”

Lynnfield’s Jackson McShane, left, checks Boston Latin’s Ryan McHugh along the boards during Lynnfield’s 2-0 boys hockey win. (Staff Photo By Stuart Cahill/Boston Herald)

Covino didn’t put too much thought into the last time he started against Boston Latin as a freshman in 2023 – losing 4-1 in the tournament’s consolation game. But it was on his mind, helping drive him to a different outcome Friday.

“It feels good, good to see pucks,” he said. “It was a good game. I wasn’t happy with my first game of the year at Winthrop, but it was good to get a good win out there and come back for (the championship) tomorrow. … (Boston Latin) pumped me freshman year in the consolation game, so it’s pretty special to me.”

That included an impressive stretch on a penalty kill early in the third, in which he made a highlight-reel save falling backwards.

“When he made that save on the power play,” Gardner said. “We kind of say that that save has to be meaningful, that has to be a sort of game-changer. And it was. If they score there, I don’t know if (the game) unfolds that way.”

Wolfpack head coach Frank Woods felt his team had plenty of chances to capitalize, but  just couldn’t get a shot past Covino, and was pleased with how his third line looked. He credited Lynnfield for taking advantage of a couple costly mistakes at the end to earn the win, too.

He obviously would prefer the win, but talked at length over Giordano and the joy of playing a tournament in his name over the last six years.

“He was a Latin guy, through and through,” Woods said. “He’s the epitome of a Latin School guy, so to have a tournament in his name has been great. … It’s been nice to have something here that we can host and honor him as well.”